Mammoth Fire grows, but no longer threatening power supply

SHOSHONE - The Bureau of Land Management says the Mammoth Fire north of Shoshone was mapped at 50,182 acres Monday morning, the progression has stopped, and crews have a better handle on containment.

The fire had more than doubled in size this weekend, growing from 20,000 acres Saturday evening to an estimated 47,000 acres on Sunday, BLM officials said.

An earlier estimate from the BLM showed the fire had grown to 60,000 acres but was later revised.

The fire destroyed one home and several other structures on Friday, but crews have been able to successfully keep the fire from damaging any more buildings over the weekend.

Saturday evening, the fire threatened to knock out electricity service to the Wood River Valley, but by Sunday morning, the Blaine County sheriff said he had been notified by Idaho Power that the threat had passed.

BLM spokesperson Kelsey Brizendine said the fire burned aggressively throughout the night into Sunday morning, with the northern flank pushing to Picabo Desert Road. Crews have been able to hold the fire at the road, and are working to put in containment lines there.

The Mammoth Fire was reported at 2:30 p.m. Friday, and grew quickly due to high winds and hot, dry conditions.

Lighter winds and higher humidity on Sunday were expected to help firefighters make progress on the fire, but managers were concerned about possible wind shifts from thunderstorms pushing in from Nevada.

There is currently no estimate on containment or control times.

All evacuations were lifted shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday.

SHOESTRING FIRE

The Twin Falls District BLM also responded to a fire north of Wendell Saturday afternoon.

The Shoestring Fire grew to more than 35,000 acres on Sunday, but crews reported good progress and expected to have it contained by Monday evening.